TAUNTON — Seven years after being rejected by the city’s historic district commission, an ad hoc group of parents are back with a new proposal for a free skateboard park.

Members of the Taunton Skateboard Park recently presented their idea to city councilors for a 10,000-square-foot, all-purpose recreational park that would accommodate skateboards, BMX bikes and inline skaters.

The concrete “park” would be installed downtown behind the police station on top of a grassy area that is now part of the Mil River Park and Riverwalk.

When the riverwalk opened in late 2011, it replaced what was a crumbling parking area that the police department had been using to store impounded and departmental vehicles for years.

The riverwalk and park, which includes a walking path and benches, not only eliminated what many considered an eyesore, but the installment of a bio-retention system with drains and pipes ensured that dirty stormwater no longer would spill into the river. Native plants were planted to replace what had been invasive species that previously flourished on the riverbank.

Eighty percent of the $1.24 million project came from the state’s Gateway Park Initiative. The remaining $258,000 “matching grant” was provided via the city’s annual federal Community Development Block Grant allotment.

Former mayor Charles Crowley and the full City Council supported the skateboard park when parents presented their plan in 2007. The city even managed to secure a $160,000 state urban park grant to include the skateboard park in the project.

But fierce opposition from the city’s historic district commission put an end to the youth-oriented recreational area.

Then-commission chairman Joseph deMello, whose law office is nearby, and the owner of an adjacent apartment building were particularly adamant in their assertion that the value of their properties eventually would suffer.

The nonprofit Heart of Taunton and the city’s parks and recreation department also were said to have opposed the idea.

Speaking on behalf of the skate park committee, Lee Ann Tavares said her group was prepared to raise funds to pay for the project, which she said could cost as much as $350,000.

Tavares said the location behind the police station near Spring Street is ideal, in part because it will discourage troublemakers from vandalizing the facility. She also said the concrete design would minimize the noise level.

Some skateboard parks, including one in Bridgewater’s Legion Field, have been shut down due to vandalism, fights and fires.

The all-ages park, Tavares said, would not require protective head gear and would not put the city in a position of assuming liability in the event of an injury. She said hours of operation have yet to be determined.

Page 2 of 2 - Councilor A.J. Marshall said Tavares and her colleagues would be well advised to apply as a nonprofit. To not do so, he said, would make it difficult to convince people to donate money.

Tavares said her group considered going the “501 route,” but she said it would be “expensive.”

Councilor Donald Cleary backed up Marshall, telling her “there’s no way you’re going to raise $350,000 if you’re not a legitimate nonprofit.”

The council voted to seek the opinion of both the city’s law department and the department of Parks, Cemeteries and Public Grounds. The also agreed to revisit the topic in three weeks.

Former mayor Crowley said he was elated to learn that there is renewed discussion of locating a skateboard park behind the police station and the old City Hall.

“It’s something the youngsters deserve,” Crowley said.

And he said he’s optimistic that the current, collective makeup of the historic district commission is “more open-minded” and will not ultimately try to block the proposal.